“So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float.” II Kings 6:6 NKJV
“What goes up must come down”. This famous quote coined by Sir Isaac Newton, meant things that rise must eventually return to the earth due to gravity. One can verify this quote by attempting to be like “Air Mike”, whether you succeed or not, you will certainly come down from the liftoff. Then there is Newton’s first law, which states that “an object will not change its speed or direction unless another force affects it.” This is the reason for airbags in a car because it stops the driver from smashing into the windshield, if the car was to hit a tree. There are significant advancements and inventions that we have attained with the knowledge and understanding of the natural world around us. If we can come this far with understanding of the natural, then imagine what can we attain from the supernatural events of the Bible?
One such supernatural event occurred with Elisha the prophet. Elisha was the successor of Elijah, who performed miracles himself and went to heaven in fiery chariots, putting Newton’s law of motion into rest, but that subject can wait for another time. Now, Elisha was hailed as the new leader by a band of young prophets as God was with Elisha and used him to perform miracles. The popularity of Elisha grew among the people and they told him, “See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell.” Elisha agreed and went with them and they came to Jordan and started to cut the trees for their new dwelling place.
But as one young prophet was cutting down a tree, the iron axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed.” So, Elisha said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place. Elisha then cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. Elisha then said, “Pick it up for yourself.” Then the young prophet reached out his hand and took it.
God’s omnipotence supersedes the natural laws and negates the natural properties of all known and unknown elements. The sunken iron axe reminds us of our natural state, drowned into the miry depths of sin, where there is no footing, even for us who have drifted into the deep waters, and engulfed by the floods of immorality.
Iron (Fe), element number 26 on the Periodic Table has density higher than that of water (H2O) and when iron is cast into water, it will sink and not float. Elisha knew of this practical law but decided to throw a stick in the water anyway and that was enough for the iron axe to come up and float. A miracle was performed, a supernatural event had occurred. The absolute power of God was on display for all to see by the Jordan river. God’s omnipotence supersedes the natural laws and negates the natural properties of all known and unknown elements. The sunken iron axe reminds us of our natural state, drowned into the miry depths of sin, where there is no footing, even for us who have drifted into the deep waters, and engulfed by the floods of immorality. Praise God for His power is not contained, for His wisdom is beyond our meager understanding!
The One who created the 118 elements in the Periodic table also said, “the wages of sin is death”. Glory to God for He is not just a God of justice but a God of love also. The love of God was demonstrated through the One of whom prophet Isaiah says, “who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground.” Just as Elisha threw a stick into the water to recover the axe, God sent a tender plant, His own Son to the world. This Man who knew no sin was alone able to redeem mankind and pull him to the shores of God’s grace and set him upon a rock. Will you reach out to Christ and be saved from your sunken state? Will you take a leap of faith and believe in Him and be lifted up this very hour?
George John resides in Hawthorne, New Jersey with his wife Eirene and four children. He is in active fellowship with the believers in Elmwood Park Bible Chapel, New Jersey and serves as the Sunday School Principal. George is also a pharmacist by trade.
Image from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periodic_table Used with modification